Anisotropy of zero-bias diffusive anomalies for different orientations of an external magnetic field

We consider the influence of the electron-electron interaction on the nonlinearity of the current-voltage characteristic of the tunnel junction at low bias (diffusive anomaly) in the presence of the classical magnetic field. We present the theory of a new phenomenon which manifests itself in the strong anisotropy of a diffusive anomaly for different orientations of the magnetic field with respect to the interface of the tunnel junction. The nonlinear differential tunneling conductance has a universal magnetic field dependence, so that only the magnetic field component perpendicular to the interface is involved. In particular, when the magnetic field is parallel to the interface, the I-V characteristic does not depend on the value of the magnetic field.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX format, 2 figures (available from the authors), accepted for publication by PR

Nonlinear electron transport in normally pinched-off quantum wire

Nonlinear electron transport in normally pinched-off quantum wires was studied. The wires were fabricated from AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures with high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas by electron beam lithography and following wet etching. At certain critical source-drain voltage the samples exhibited a step rise of the conductance. The differential conductance of the open wires was noticeably lower than e^2/h as far as only part of the source-drain voltage dropped between source contact and saddle-point of the potential relief along the wire. The latter limited the electron flow injected to the wire. At high enough source-drain voltages the decrease of the differential conductance due to the real space transfer of electrons from the wire in GaAs to the doped AlGaAs layer was found. In this regime the sign of differential magnetoconductance was changed with reversing the direction of the current in the wire or the magnetic field, whet the magnetic field lies in the heterostructure plane and is directed perpendicular to the current. The dependence of the differential conductance on the magnetic field and its direction indicated that the real space transfer events were mainly mediated by the interface scattering.Comment: LaTeX 2e (epl.cls) 6 pages, 3 figure

Femtosecond pulses and dynamics of molecular photoexcitation: RbCs example

We investigate the dynamics of molecular photoexcitation by unchirped femtosecond laser pulses using RbCs as a model system. This study is motivated by a goal of optimizing a two-color scheme of transferring vibrationally-excited ultracold molecules to their absolute ground state. In this scheme the molecules are initially produced by photoassociation or magnetoassociation in bound vibrational levels close to the first dissociation threshold. We analyze here the first step of the two-color path as a function of pulse intensity from the low-field to the high-field regime. We use two different approaches, a global one, the 'Wavepacket' method, and a restricted one, the 'Level by Level' method where the number of vibrational levels is limited to a small subset. The comparison between the results of the two approaches allows one to gain qualitative insights into the complex dynamics of the high-field regime. In particular, we emphasize the non-trivial and important role of far-from-resonance levels which are adiabatically excited through 'vertical' transitions with a large Franck-Condon factor. We also point out spectacular excitation blockade due to the presence of a quasi-degenerate level in the lower electronic state. We conclude that selective transfer with femtosecond pulses is possible in the low-field regime only. Finally, we extend our single-pulse analysis and examine population transfer induced by coherent trains of low-intensity femtosecond pulses.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figure

Indication for the coexistence of closed orbit and quantum interferometer with the same cross section in the organic metal (ET)4(H3O)[Fe(C2O4)3].C6H4Cl2: Persistence of SdH oscillations above 30 K

Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations spectra of the quasi-two dimensional charge transfer salt $\beta$"-(ET)$_4$(H$_3$O)[Fe(C$_2$O$_4$)$_3$]$\cdot$C$_6$H$_4$Cl$_2$ have been investigated in pulsed magnetic fields up to 54 T. The data reveal three basic frequencies F$_a$, F$_b$ and F$_{b - a}$, which can be interpreted on the basis of three compensated closed orbits at low temperature. However a very weak thermal damping of the Fourier component F$_b$, with the highest amplitude, is evidenced for SdH spectra above about 6 K. As a result, magnetoresistance oscillations are observed at temperatures higher than 30 K. This feature, which is not observed for dHvA oscillations, is in line with quantum interference, pointing to a Fermi surface reconstruction in this compound.Comment: published in Eur. Phys. J. B 71 203 (2009

Magnetic-field-dependent zero-bias diffusive anomaly in Pb oxide-n-InAs structures: Coexistence of two- and three-dimensional states

The results of experimental and theoretical studies of zero-bias anomaly (ZBA) in the Pb-oxide-n-InAs tunnel structures in magnetic field up to 6T are presented. A specific feature of the structures is a coexistence of the 2D and 3D states at the Fermi energy near the semiconductor surface. The dependence of the measured ZBA amplitude on the strength and orientation of the applied magnetic field is in agreement with the proposed theoretical model. According to this model, electrons tunnel into 2D states, and move diffusively in the 2D layer, whereas the main contribution to the screening comes from 3D electrons.Comment: 8 double-column pages, REVTeX, 9 eps figures embedded with epsf, published versio